Microbatteries from Nanowires
When we compare the products from Enable IPC's
technology portfolio with similar products aimed at
the same market, we believe our product will:
technology portfolio with similar products aimed at
the same market, we believe our product will:
- Provide more continuous power and higher
- Allow for both rechargeable and single-use
- Utilize a smaller space; and
- Cost less.
To contact us:
29033 Avenue Sherman, Suite 202
Valencia, CA 91355
T: (661) 775-9273
F: (661) 775-9274
Email: info@enableipc.com
29033 Avenue Sherman, Suite 202
Valencia, CA 91355
T: (661) 775-9273
F: (661) 775-9274
Email: info@enableipc.com
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How Our Batteries Work
At a fundamental level, batteries consist of three parts:
an anode (the - pole), a cathode (the + pole) and an electrolyte. When a
connection is made between the + and - poles, a chemical reaction
creates power.
Many companies and research institutions are working on "thin film"
batteries. These are batteries that are created using many of the same
techniques used to create integrated circuits (ICs). They start with a
wafer (a flat disc that may be made of silicon, glass, ceramic, or other
material; see figure 1). It could be 2" or as much as 8" or larger in
diameter.
The thin film battery manufacturer will then deposit
battery materials on the wafer in special
configurations. A simple diagram is shown in
figure 2.
The amount of energy the battery can produce is
determined by the mass of the anode and cathode
(that is, the more material there is, the more atoms
there are, therefore, the more electrons are available
to provide power) and the chemical reactivity of the
materials.
The surface area between the active material
(anode and cathode) and the electrolyte, however, is
like the doorway for the current flow. The larger the
surface area, the lower the battery internal resistance
and the larger the current flow. Figure 3 highlights
the surface area of a thin film cathode. Current flow
between the cathode and electrolyte is typically a
limiting factor in thin film battery performance.
Nanowire cathodes are attractive because they
increase the surface area by a very large amount.
Therefore, they can provide a greater power burst
in a relatively small footprint (see figure 4).
OK . . . So What?
We can make these batteries in different
chemistries and different configurations, meaning
they can be rechargeable or not, and can fit into a
variety of applications, including:
So, a typical battery for one of these applications might measure about the size of a postage stamp and
about 2/3 the thickness of a credit card. And, it would be very inexpensive to manufacture.
You may still be asking yourself "so what"? Many people in the United States are not familiar with
"smart" cards and other potential market opportunities for microbatteries. "Smart" cards are popular in
Europe and the Pacific Rim, but not so much in the U.S. (yet).
The answer to the "so what" question is simple: if anyone can supply a battery for "smart" cards (and
other, similar disposables in terms of energy and power) that meets the price and performance targets
these manufacturers are seeking, they will have access to a market that was over $500 million in 2005
and is estimated to go over $3 billion by 2012 (according to a 2005 report from Nanomarkets, an
independent market research firm)..
This is one reason why (by our count) there are over 50 companies in the US alone (not counting
dozens of research institutions and government labs) that are working on perfecting the microbattery.
And it is why we are so excited about our technologies. We believe we will meet the price and
performance specifications of these end users. And we are very excited about our test results so far.
At a fundamental level, batteries consist of three parts:
an anode (the - pole), a cathode (the + pole) and an electrolyte. When a
connection is made between the + and - poles, a chemical reaction
creates power.
Many companies and research institutions are working on "thin film"
batteries. These are batteries that are created using many of the same
techniques used to create integrated circuits (ICs). They start with a
wafer (a flat disc that may be made of silicon, glass, ceramic, or other
material; see figure 1). It could be 2" or as much as 8" or larger in
diameter.
The thin film battery manufacturer will then deposit
battery materials on the wafer in special
configurations. A simple diagram is shown in
figure 2.
The amount of energy the battery can produce is
determined by the mass of the anode and cathode
(that is, the more material there is, the more atoms
there are, therefore, the more electrons are available
to provide power) and the chemical reactivity of the
materials.
The surface area between the active material
(anode and cathode) and the electrolyte, however, is
like the doorway for the current flow. The larger the
surface area, the lower the battery internal resistance
and the larger the current flow. Figure 3 highlights
the surface area of a thin film cathode. Current flow
between the cathode and electrolyte is typically a
limiting factor in thin film battery performance.
Nanowire cathodes are attractive because they
increase the surface area by a very large amount.
Therefore, they can provide a greater power burst
in a relatively small footprint (see figure 4).
OK . . . So What?
We can make these batteries in different
chemistries and different configurations, meaning
they can be rechargeable or not, and can fit into a
variety of applications, including:
- "smart" cards
- RFID tags
- MEMs/NEMs
- military ID
- sensors
- chip memory backup
So, a typical battery for one of these applications might measure about the size of a postage stamp and
about 2/3 the thickness of a credit card. And, it would be very inexpensive to manufacture.
You may still be asking yourself "so what"? Many people in the United States are not familiar with
"smart" cards and other potential market opportunities for microbatteries. "Smart" cards are popular in
Europe and the Pacific Rim, but not so much in the U.S. (yet).
The answer to the "so what" question is simple: if anyone can supply a battery for "smart" cards (and
other, similar disposables in terms of energy and power) that meets the price and performance targets
these manufacturers are seeking, they will have access to a market that was over $500 million in 2005
and is estimated to go over $3 billion by 2012 (according to a 2005 report from Nanomarkets, an
independent market research firm)..
This is one reason why (by our count) there are over 50 companies in the US alone (not counting
dozens of research institutions and government labs) that are working on perfecting the microbattery.
And it is why we are so excited about our technologies. We believe we will meet the price and
performance specifications of these end users. And we are very excited about our test results so far.
| Figure 1 -- Example of a typical 4" silicon wafer. |
| Figure 2 -- Basic diagram of a thin film battery on a wafer. |
| Figure 3 -- Surface area of a thin film battery cathode. |
| Figure 4 -- Surface area of a nanowire-based cathode. |
| Nanowires created by Enable IPC personnel are each about 1,000 times smaller than a human hair. Arrays of these nanowires comprise a key part of our battery technology, and make for lower costs and better performance. |
Click here to download a technical paper on our microbattery technology (pdf format; approx. 177K)
| Stock Symbol: EIPC Corporate Blog |